Chasing Golden Hour with Alex Hinson in Bend Oregon

Oregon, By Alex

Alex moved to Bend with his girlfriend on a whim several years ago, after she applied for and accepted her dream job. They haven’t looked back since.

Bend is endlessly inspiring — there’s a suite of overlooks and diverse trails you can see in a single day as a photographer. You’ve got the Three Sisters backpacking trails with sweeping alpine views, the silty high-desert sands near Painted Hills, or even a visit to Crater Lake, which is only a couple of hours north.

Oregon has a way of showing off in subtle ways, but it’s only in the last few years that Alex has really felt this. Even now, there’s still so much to explore. When I asked about his favorite landscapes to shoot, he pointed to the high mountains; he loves how a single trail can deliver lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and forests if you’re willing to park and start walking.

For Alex, photography began as a way to pass the time during his sophomore year of high school, on long after-school walks in the woods. He borrowed a friend’s parents’ Canon PowerShot, then moved to his dad’s Canon SLR, which eventually became his own.

He’s been shooting ever since, quietly turning a passionate hobby into a full-time career.

The Gear He Trusts

These days, Alex rocks a Sony A7 III with a prized and always within reach Sigma 24-70mm lens; the most effective focal length for landscapes and hikes, capturing both wide vistas and punch-in compositions. For video, he uses the Lumix S9 with a 20-60mm lens, which is perfect for shooting cinematic stills & vlogging for his YouTube channel, if he feels up to it.

And, of course, he still has a classic point-and-shoot Olympus Superzoom 750 35mm film camera, which originally came from the depths of his grandpa’s closet. He also sports a vintage striped cameras strap, which he affectionately uses alongside his Sony.

Field Testing Fast & Light Bags

The trails weren’t about bag talk, but we handed him some pre-production samples anyway to pick his brain.

He and his girlfriend vibed with them a lot; the Slate 4L and Take 1.5 sling were great for quick errand runs, while the backpack was better tailored for sunset hikes where you only need a couple of camera bodies, some snacks, and maybe a jacket. The gear didn’t get in his way (which is precisely the point of why we made this camera bag line).

For creators like Alex who move between digital and film, city streets and backcountry trails — a bag needs to keep up. It's nice to know our fast & light line feels compact, dialed, and ready to live in the car or on your back without ever feeling like a burden. They’re true camera bags, with the organization and padding needed to protect your gear, plus enough room for trail snacks, binoculars, notebooks — whatever you feel like bringing along.

Which Fast & Light Bag Is Right For Me?

Backpack, sling, or vest? Moment unveils a fast & light camera bag line featuring SUPER lightweight materials, athletic performance, and versatile wear. No matter if the camera stays home.

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Natalie CarrascoOct 29, 2025